Grade
4
Informative
Writing
Lessons
Authored
by
CLR
Fellows:
Allison
Liang
and
Jessica
Thomas
4th Grade Informative Writing CLR Lessons Aligned to CCSS DAY 1
Informative Writing Pre-Assessment
Common Core
Objective(s)
CCSS-ELA.W.8. Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant
information from print and digital sources; take notes, paraphrase, and categorize
Information, and provide a list of sources.
CCSS-ELA.W.2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas
and information clearly.
Essential Question
“Big Idea”
MELD Objective(s):
What is Informative Writing?
Utilizing MELD
methodologies to support
mastery of school language
and literacy.
Access Strategy(ies) /
Protocols
Incorporated into this
lesson
Materials / Resources
Instructional Strategies:
Intended Student Learning Outcomes:
Student demonstrates proficient use of Standard English (SE) in written and oral
form.
§ Think Pair Share
§ Whip Around
§ Instructional Conversation
§ Advanced Graphic Organizers
§ Informative Writing Day 1 Power Point § Informative Writing Flip Book § “Information Chant” § “Welcome to Los Angeles” – Writing Template
Lesson Sequence
1. Interactive Read-­‐Aloud of digital text: We Love LA PowerPoint to help students collect information that could be used to answer the question: “What information can you share about Los Angele, CA? § Either show the PowerPoint, or show students the slides using a document reader. As students view slides, use appropriate participation and discussion protocols to have students share, and gather, information about Los Angles based on the slides. § After viewing the slides, have students Think-­‐Pair-­‐Share to discuss answers to the following question “What places would you recommend to people to go visit in Los Angeles? What would people see or do there?” 2. Pre-­‐assessment: After viewing the “We Love LA” PowerPoint, Students will conduct a cold-­‐write of an informative paragraph answering the question: “What places would you recommend to people to go visit in Los Angeles? What would people see or do there?” § Give students 10 minutes to write an informative paragraph about a place in Los Angeles by giving facts and details on a piece of paper they title “Welcome to Los Angeles”. “ 3. Introduction to Informative Writing Lesson “We are going to learn about: informative writing, the different types of informational text, and what an informative writing piece looks like, or contains.” § Teacher shows the “Informational Writing” section of the PowerPoint, or a print out the slides shown on a document reader. 5. Guided Teacher will use appropriate participation and discussion protocols to “stop 4th Grade Informative Writing CLR Lessons Aligned to CCSS Formative Assessment
Differentiation:
Common Core
Objective(s)
and talk” about each slide, having students echo the definition or the important facts presented about informational writing presented on each slide. § Teacher models: “Stop and Jot” on Chart paper to write key ideas from the slides. 6. Independent: Students complete Informative Writing Flip Books Students may work in partner groups to review what they have learned about Informational Writing by cutting and pasting definitions and examples onto their individual Informative Writing Flip Books. § Students can refer to the “Stop and Jot” chart paper to find the answers needed to complete their own Informative Writing Flip Books. § Another option is to use the Flipbook as a note taking tool as the teacher shows the power point, then students can pair up to share their notes with one another. 7. Closing: Whole Group Information Game § Teacher models how to add details to a topic using the Information Game. § Students participate in the chant by thinking of details for a given topic.
Students will whip around to participate in categorizing information,
relevant details, and by staying on topic.
Students’ Flip Books can be used to assess students’ understanding of informational text.
Teachers can use students’ writing samples to assess students’ abilities and needs, using this
information to guide their instruction throughout this unit of study.
DAY 2 Informative Writing
CCSS-ELA.W.8. Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information
from print and digital sources; take notes, paraphrase, and categorize, information, and provide a
list of sources.
CCSS-ELA.RI 2 Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key
details; summarize the text.
CCSS-ELA.SL.4.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (One on one, in
groups, and teacher led). With diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’
ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Essential Question
“Big Idea”
MELD Objective(s):
Utilizing MELD
methodologies to support
mastery of school language
and literacy.
Access Strategy(ies) /
Protocols
Incorporated into this
What is annotating text?
How do I extract the main idea and details from Informational Text?
Intended Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will participate in a Collaborative Reading and note taking from a Cesar
Chavez (Delores Huerta) Biography in order to take notes, and categorize
information into Topic and Supporting Facts.
•
•
Use of Advanced Graphic Organizers
Instructional Conversations facilitated by purposeful use of Participation and
Discussion Protocols
4th Grade Informative Writing CLR Lessons Aligned to CCSS lesson
Materials / Resources
Instructional Strategies:
•
Academic Vocabulary Development
1. Highlighters and Post-its
2. Informational Text: Cesar Chavez “La Causa,” (additional resources for
you to chose from: Delores Huerta, and any Treasures Informational Text
Leveled Readers)
3. iPads, if students are accustomed to annotating in this way
4. Supplemental Materials PowerPoint: Day 2
Informational Writing Focus: Students will take notes from informational text to develop
a multiple paragraph informative essay.
Lesson Sequence:
Whole Group:
1. Teacher will display the “Information Leveled Student Writing Sample,”
(Suggested material: Refer to Lucy Calkins, Writing Pathways, Page 158 –
159) or create your own “Mentor Text.” Then the teacher will introduce the
biography/informational text to the students and will inform the class of the
writing objectives. “Today, we will be reading about Cesar Chavez. We will be
taking notes about facts that are important to us. Then we will use our information
to compose a multiple paragraph essay to inform our audience about Cesar Chavez.
”
2. Teacher reads the first two to three sentences of the first paragraph and
models “Thinking Aloud” by asking out loud the question “Can I identify the
main Idea from the text so far? I think the first sentence is the main idea. But let’s
keep reading to make sure?”
3. Teacher models annotating the first paragraph of a text and highlights
important main ideas and details using overhead projector. “I think this is an
important fact because...” “The author wanted readers to understand this
detail because...”
4. Use “Pick A Stick” as you select a student to read two to three sentences at a
time to finish reading the rest of the article. Stop and discuss the text as a
whole group. “What is the main idea in the second paragraph? What is the author
trying to inform us about the topic?” “Which sentences are details that support the
main idea?”
5. Students “Give one, Get One” to compare highlighted notes with a partner.
Share the main idea and one interesting supporting fact you learned about
Cesar Chavez.
6. Teacher discusses main idea and details and charts an example of how to use
“Box and Bullets” to write the main idea and details from the first paragraph
Participation Protocol: Pick a Stick
Discussion Protocol: Give One, Get One
Small Group
1. Teach “Put Your Two Cents In” Discussion Protocol:
o Students will practice this new Discussion Protocol because it
4th Grade Informative Writing CLR Lessons Aligned to CCSS provides students with individual opportunities to state their ideas,
but requires other participants to listen in to order to be able to
respond to them.
§ Break students into groups of four to practice this Discussion
Protocol.
§ Distribute fake coins, or any other kind of “Talking Chip” for
students to use as they practice this Discussion Protocol.
Inform students that they will use this protocol to practice: Main
Idea and details.
2. Instruct students in groups to use the “Put Your Two Cents In”
Discussion Protocol to write the main idea and details from the second
paragraph using their annotated highlighted text onto post-its., and support it
with reasons, as they answer posed questions.
3. Students apply their post-its to categorize the Main Idea and Details from the
text onto the Boxes and Bullets work mat.
4. Teacher uses “Pick a Stick” (With team #’s written on sticks) or “Roll ‘Em”
to randomly select a team to orally present their Boxes and Bullets with the
class.
o Students can be provided with sentence frames to scaffold their
speaking and writing.
Participation Protocol: Pick a Stick or Roll ‘Em
Independent: 1. Students will use their teams’ Boxes and Bullets Advanced Graphic Organizer to
write a sentence stating the Main Idea and two sentences with the supporting details.
Formative Assessment
Teacher assesses:
1. Students’ annotated text using highlighters
2. Students’ ability to write sentences with the main idea and details
3. Speaking and Listening during small group completion of the Boxes and Bullets
work mat
4. Oral participation
Common Core
Objective(s)
DAY 3 Write and Informational Paragraph using Notes
CCSS-ELA-W2b Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details,
quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.
Essential Question
“Big Idea”
MELD Objective(s):
CCSS-ELA-W2.4 Produce clear and coherent writing (including multiple
paragraphs texts) in which the development and organization are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
How do I develop the topic in my writing with concrete details?
How do I develop and organize my ideas to write a paragraph?
Intended Student Learning Outcomes:
Utilizing MELD
4th Grade Informative Writing CLR Lessons Aligned to CCSS methodologies to support
mastery of school language
and literacy.
Access Strategy(ies) /
Protocols
Incorporated into this
lesson
Materials / Resources
Instructional Strategies:
Topicalization – Sentence Structure: Students will understand how to use their Box
and Bullets, Advanced Graphic Organizer to write an informational paragraph.
Use of Advanced Graphic Organizer
Instructional Conversation facilitated by purposeful use of Participation and
Discussion Protocols
• Academic Vocabulary Development
• Communal & Cooperative Groups
1. Topic/Idea Cards
2. Topic/Idea Directions
3. Informational Text - (Cesar Chavez - “La Causa,” Delores Huerta
Biography, etc.)
4. Notes from Informational Text
5. Completed Box and Bullets
6. iPads, if students are accustomed to writing essays in this way
7. Supplemental Materials PowerPoint: Day 3
Informational Writing Focus: Students will construct paragraphs that are organized to
provide facts and supporting details about a given topic.
•
•
Lesson Sequence:
Whole Group:
1. The class participates in a “Topic Idea” Game
The Teacher reviews directions for the game
The Teacher distributes one “Topic Idea” Card to each student:
• Read your card 3 times
• Find others with cards that fit with yours
• Stand or sit together in a circle
• One at a time read your card out loud
• Decide as a group what the topic is
• Come up with possible ideas as the details point to
• Decide on three possible topic sentences
2. The teacher says, “Over the past few days we have been learning how to
extract information from the text to write notes. Our notes have helped us
organize our information into main ideas/topics, supporting details and
quotes. Today we will use all of our collected research to write a
introduction paragraph.”
3. The teacher charts and models how to create a paragraph about the topic
using a topic sentence, notes/examples from the text, details, and examples
from the collected research.
Title: ________________________________________________
Question: _____________________________________________
Topic Sentence: ______________________________________________________
Supporting Detail #1: ______________________________________________________
Supporting Detail #2: ______________________________________________________
4th Grade Informative Writing CLR Lessons Aligned to CCSS Individual Activity:
Students should complete an informational paragraph using the Box and
Bullets graphic organizers completed on Day 2.
Grammar Mini-Lesson (10 – 15 minutes)
You can use the California Treasures’ Writing and Grammar Intervention Guide’s
Section on Linguistic Differences to find the lessons that can be used to help SELs
understand how to compare and contrast the way a particular grammar rule is used
in Home Language and School Language
•
Formative Assessment
Differentiation
Common Core
Objective(s)
Use the sentences collected on Day 2 to guide the spelling, punctuation,
capitalization, and grammar rules you’ll address during your grammar
mini-lesson.
Students’ individual paragraphs. Use these sentences to determine the topic for tomorrow’s
Grammar Mini-Lesson.
Some students may need to focus on writing one paragraph, while others may be ready to
move on to multiple paragraphs.
DAY 4 Informational Writing using Quotations CCSS-ELA.RI. 8 Explain how an author uses reasons and
evidence to support particular points in a text.
CCSS-ELA.W.2b Develop the topic with facts definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other
information and examples related to the topic.
Essential Question
“Big Idea”
MELD Objective(s):
Utilizing MELD
methodologies to support
mastery of school language
and literacy.
How do I use quotes to support the topic sentence?
How do I use correct punctuation when quoting text?
Intended Student Learning Outcomes:
Sentence Structure: Topicalization
Intended Student Outcomes:
Students will understand how to develop the supporting detail sentences using quotes.
Students will practice extracting key ideas from a text in order to use the correct punctuation
when quoting.
Access Strategy(ies) /
Protocols
Incorporated into this
lesson
Materials / Resources
•
•
•
•
Instructional Conversations
Cooperative and Communal Learning Environment
Making Cultural Connections
Advanced Graphic Organizers
•
Academic Language Development
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Informational Text
Box and Bullets work mat note
Sentence Strips
Punctuation cut-outs (“quotation marks”, comma, and period.)
”Cite Information from Text Using Quotations” work mat
iPads if used regularly
4th Grade Informative Writing CLR Lessons Aligned to CCSS Instructional Strategies:
Informational Writing Focus: Students will use the “Quotation Starters” work mat
to cite information from the text and correctly use punctuation.
Lesson Sequence:
Whole Group
1. Teacher will review the main idea and details from the previous lesson.
2. Teacher will model how to use annotations from the previous lesson to extract a
quote.
3. Teacher will display chart of examples of sentence/quote
“Quote Starters.”
The writer said, “_______________________.”
According to the text, “__________________.”
In this example, “_______________________.”
The passage told us, “____________________.”
The author suggested, “__________________.”
4. Teacher will use the “Pick a Stick” Protocol to choose students to assist in
extracting information from the article and notes from the previous lesson.
Small Groups:
1. Students work in small groups to write quotation sentence starters and
extracted information from the text on sentence strips.
2. Students use punctuation cutouts to correctly paste the punctuation on
sentence strips.
Independent Work:
1. Students complete the “Cite Information from Text Using Quotations” Work
mat.
2. Students participate in a “Give one, Get one” Participation Protocol to check
for understanding.
Formative Assessment
Teacher Assesses:
1. Dictation: Teacher reads 3 sentences with quotations.
2. Punctuation: How well the students correctly place the quotation marks, commas,
and period.
Differentiation
Students increase academic vocabulary using the Personal Thesaurus to find synonyms for
the words article and said.
Common Core
Objective(s)
DAY 5 Writing an Informational Multiple Paragraph Essay
CCSS-ELA-W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing (Including multiple paragraph texts) in
which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS-ELA-W.2b Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or
other information and examples related to the topic.
4th Grade Informative Writing CLR Lessons Aligned to CCSS CCSS-ELA W.2c. Link ideas within categories of informational using words and phrases
(e.g., another, for example, also, because).
CCSS-ELA-W.2e Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or
explanation presented.
CCSS-ELA-L.6 Acquire and use accurately grade-level appropriate general academic and
domain-specific words and phrases.
Essential Question
“Big Idea”
MELD Objective(s):
Utilizing MELD
methodologies to support
mastery of school language
and literacy.
Access Strategy(ies) /
Protocols
Incorporated into this
lesson
Materials / Resources
Instructional Strategies:
How do I write a multiple paragraph text?
Intended Student Learning Outcomes:
Sentence Structure: Topicalization
Students will use their Advanced Graphic Organizers to write a Multiple Paragraph
Essay.
•
•
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Use of Advanced Graphic Organizer
Instructional Conversation facilitated by purposeful use of Participation and
Discussion Protocols
Academic Vocabulary Development
Informative Writing Flip Book
Annotated notes
Box and Bullets
Informative Writing Template
Cite Informational Text Using Quotations Work Mat
Transition Words Poster/Chart
7. iPads, if students are accustomed to annotating text in this way
Informational Writing Focus: Students will construct an organized multiple paragraph
essays that provides facts and supporting details about a given topic.
Lesson Sequence:
Whole Group
1. Teacher asks students to review their notes from the previous informational
writing lessons.
2. Teacher asks students to work with a partner and “Think- Pair-Share” (TPS)
the elements of an Informational Writing Text.
3. Teacher uses “Pick – a – Stick” Discussion Protocol to review the elements
of a paragraph essay.
4. Teacher reviews using quotes to support the topic sentence.
5. Teacher reviews the transition words Work Mat.
6. Teacher models using the Informational Text Advanced Graphic Organizer
to input information from collected notes.
7. Teacher reviews introduction paragraph from Day 3.
8. Teacher says;
“Today we will begin writing a Multiple Paragraph text. We will use our
Supporting Details from our Introduction Paragraph to create 2 new Topic
Sentences additional paragraphs. We will use the Advanced Graphic Organizer
to organize our ideas. We will add Transition Words to link ideas. We will
4th Grade Informative Writing CLR Lessons Aligned to CCSS write a Concluding Paragraph to restate our introduction paragraph.”
9. The teacher models and charts an example using the Advanced Graphic
Organizer as a guide.
Teacher reviews the Information Student Checklist for writing a Multiple Paragraph Essay. Refer to Writing Pathways, by Lucy Calkins, Page 137 – “Information Student Checklist” (optional – suggested materials).
Independent work:
1. Students will write a question/statement to entice audience onto Advanced
Graphic Organizer.
2. Students write the Topic Sentence, Quote and Supporting Details on the
Advanced Graphic Organizer to support Facts from the introductory
paragraph.
3. Students add Transition words.
4. Over the next 3 days, students confer with the teacher and classmates to
revise and edit the structure of the Informative Writing.
5. Students will publish their Multiple Paragraphs using the computer.
Grammar Mini-Lesson (10 – 15 minutes)
Revising
Formative Assessment
Differentiation
Grammar Mini Lesson:
Sentence Lifting with Verbs
o Teacher copies small sections of students’ writing and models use of the
Personal Thesaurus to strengthen verb usage.
o Ex: “Cesar Chavez fought for Civil Rights.”
o Students find synonyms for the base word “fight”
o Students revise sentences – “Cesar Chavez contested Civil Rights”
o Students will identify the verb from 2 or more of their sentences in order
to acquire and accurately use general academic and domain specific
words.
Teacher Assesses:
• Progress in the structure of the Multiple Paragraph Essay
• Students’ progress writing clear and coherent topic sentences and supporting
details
• Students’ progress linking ideas with the use of transition words
Students’ progress writing a concluding statement or paragraph
You may need to use Enrichment materials provided by Treasures Writing and Grammar for
Grammar Mini-Lesson.